Si tiene alguna duda sobre esta nota debido a la traduccion,
por favor comuniquese con Rafael Friedmann via email: rfriedmann@aol.com
Message from the Principal
Dear Emerson Families,
We are entering the season of giving and thanks. I would like to take a moment to say thank you to the parents and guardians. You have been patient and supportive during the many months of this pandemic. The school staff enjoyed a delicious First Friday luncheon last week, which was provided by the kindergarten families. The Heart of Emerson fundraising campaign has raised half of its goal. You have adjusted to the changing protocols of this pandemic and partnered with school staff. Emerson is truly a special place for parents and families and you deserve credit for contributing to our strong community. Thank you, families!
You can mark your calendar for the Incoming Kindergarten Night Information Zoom, which will take place on Tuesday, January 11 at 7:00 pm. We will not offer on-campus tours this year, but families are welcome to check out the Kindergarten Recruitment Video for a peek into the school.
Parents of current 4th and 5th Graders may be interested to note the first round of applications for Middle School begins on January 4, 2022, and closes on February 4, 2022. You will need to complete the application forms that can be found on the district website. Parents of younger grades may be interested to learn more about the proposed changes to the Middle School Enrollment and Assignment process, which may affect the Emerson class of 2023. You can visit this site to learn more about possible Middle School Placement changes.
Did you know that by offering a second opportunity for students to eat breakfast this year, we have increased last Spring’s meal intake of approximately 30 - 40 breakfasts to approximately 160 a day? This year, we offer students a chance to eat again, later in the mid-morning, increasing the odds that they will eat. Shout-out to the kitchen staff and the campus supervisors for helping to make second chance breakfast, during first recess, a success!
Now that the FDA and CDC have approved the Pfizer Covid 19 vaccination for 5 - 11-year-olds, we hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity. The Covid Vaccination Clinic at Malcolm X Elementary was completely booked by mid-morning the first day the link was offered. I know some parents may have been upset that they were unable to schedule a vaccination through the school district, but it is good news that children are being vaccinated.
Ms. Lily, our Office of Equity and Family Engagement Coordinator, was able to call the Emerson families that we have identified for outreach. Some families expressed hesitancy to get the vaccine or had questions about how to proceed, which is why a one-on-one conversation to answer questions and begin to quell concerns is helpful. She will continue to work with our OFEE families as the next clinics open up. Each clinic will only have about 200 spots, with no walk-ups, so it’s appointments only. The links will be shared with the public after the targeted individual outreach is completed at the beginning of each week.
For the vaccination clinics at Berkeley’s elementary schools, our school district is partnering with Carbon Health & The City of Berkeley, and the upcoming clinics, which are by appointment, are:
-11.13.21, Rosa Parks Elementary
-11.20.21, Sylvia Mendez
In addition, families are encouraged to utilize local pharmacies, health care centers, and Kaiser.
The City of Berkeley will also be offering vaccines for children ages 5-11 on Tuesdays from 11:30- 6:30 pm at a clinic on 3282 Adeline St. Please visit the City of Berkeley vaccine information page for more details.
We will continue to conduct on-site Covid testing for Emerson staff and students every Friday morning.
Thank you for your continued support.
Take care,
Jana Holmes
Upcoming Events and Key Dates
Thursday, November 11: Veterans’ Day (NO SCHOOL)
November 11 - 14: Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore - School Fundraiser (details below)
Saturday, November 13: Cal Football Parking - Kindergarten
Sunday, November 14: Third Grade Welcome Back Playdate 9:30 - 11:30 am
Sunday, November 14: Fifth Grade Welcome Back Playdate 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Sunday, November 14: Fourth Grade Welcome Back Playdate 1:30 - 3:30 pm
November 18: Picture Retakes (send back your child’s package on November 18 and take a new photo.)
November 22 - 26: Thanksgiving Holiday- No School
November 30: Giving Tuesday - Heart of Emerson Matching Challenge
Add the Emerson Google Calendar to yours!
Note to Readers: BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
COVID Vaccine and Testing Resources
COVID vaccinations are available at a number of locations within our community. Please review and share this document for vaccine and testing locations often. It will be updated with new information as it becomes available. If you have information to add to this list, please email emersonequitypta@gmail.com.
Guidance for Symptoms after Covid-19 Vaccine
Here is a handout from the county that details when students/staff should stay home after receiving the vaccination, and when they can come to school. Note that this only applies when students/staff are not in close contact with a positive Covid 19 case.
Heart of Emerson: Please Donate
Please donate to the Heart of Emerson Campaign. We have nearly raised half our goal of $110,000.
We are pleased to share this Heart of Emerson dance video, which captures the joy of movement in our Emerson community and harnesses the power of a collective. Coach Robinson taught students of each grade level this dance move, which is inspired by the Jerusalema Dance Challenge.
The Heart of Emerson Campaign funds PE, Art, student programs and family engagement. If you can, please donate at least $680, which is the amount that the Emerson PTA spends for each child. You can also donate more to support students and families who can’t afford to. Thank you to Mr. Phil, Coach Robinson, Emerson students and staff for making this video possible!
Holiday Gift Cards for Families
The Berkeley Public Schools Fund and the Office of Family Engagement and Equity are working together to fundraise for Holiday Gift Cards for families in need in our schools. To support this effort, Donations for Holiday Gift Cards can be made here. If your family is needing support during the holiday season, please contact Lily Howell at (510) 295- 7791.
Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore: School Fundraiser
Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore School Benefit Fundraiser is happening next week (November 11-14)! This fundraiser is limited to online purchases and only for four days. Purchase gift certificates online between November 11-14 and Mrs. Dalloway's will donate 15% of your purchase to Emerson. It's a wonderful way to support your school and your local bookstore and it's perfect for holiday gift giving!
Note: Please be sure to include the name “Emerson Elementary, Berkeley” in the ORDER COMMENTS field so the store knows which school you are supporting. Click here for a flyer.
Thanks in advance for your support!
Volunteers Needed for Vaccination Clinics
The Berkeley Public Schools fund is always in need of volunteers— particularly if you are bilingual or Spanish speaking! BUSD, the City of Berkeley, and Carbon Health have partnered to offer upcoming childrens’ vaccination clinics on Saturdays. You can help support the Spanish-speaking community by volunteering your time! Please check out this link and contact Valerie to to volunteer at upcoming clinics.
El fondo de las Escuelas Públicas de Berkeley siempre necesita voluntarios, ¡especialmente si usted es bilingüe o habla español! BUSD, la ciudad de Berkeley y Carbon Health se han asociado para ofrecer las próximas clínicas de vacunación para niños los sábados. ¡Usted puede ayudar a apoyar a la comunidad de habla hispana ofreciendo su tiempo como voluntario! Consulte este enlace y comuníquese con Valerie para ser voluntario en las próximas clínicas.
Volunteers Needed for Vaccination Clinics
The Berkeley Public Schools fund is always in need of volunteers— particularly if you are bilingual or Spanish speaking! BUSD, the City of Berkeley, and Carbon Health have partnered to offer upcoming childrens’ vaccination clinics on Saturdays. You can help support the Spanish-speaking community by volunteering your time! Please check out this link and contact Valerie to to volunteer at upcoming clinics.
Equity Corner: Indigenous and Native Heritage Month
Equity Corner: Indigenous and Native Heritage Month
As we continue to celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month, I encourage you to look around our community and imagine Huichin, the territory where the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people live. The Bay area once had over 400 shellmounds, where mounds of earth were built up from shell and organic matter and served as burial and sacred sites for the Ohlone. Excavation of the shellmounds occurred between 1853 and 1910 and the above-ground shell midden and burial remains were sold as fertilizer and grading material for local roads. The West Berkeley Shellmound was, at points, 300 feet long and 30 feet high; despite archaeological digs that incorporated engineered soil to prepare the land for subsequent development, the shellmound still exists beneath the parking lot that covers the sacred space now. Learn more about the Ohlone Vision for the West Berkeley Shellmound here. -cielo
Portion of West Berkeley Shellmound, photo (ca. 1910) courtesy of Indian People Organizing for Change
Esquina del Equidad: Mes de la herencia Indígena y Nativa
Mientras continuamos celebrando el Mes de la Herencia Indígena, mire alrededor de nuestra comunidad e imagine Huichin, el territorio donde vive el pueblo Ohlone que habla Chochenyo El área de la bahía alguna vez tuvo más de 400 “shellmounds", donde se construyeron montículos de tierra a partir de conchas y materia orgánica y sirvieron como lugares de enterramiento y sitios sagrados para los Ohlone. La excavación de los “shellmounds" se llevó a cabo entre 1853 y 1910 y los restos de conchas y los restos de entierro se vendieron como fertilizante y material para las carreteras locales. El West Berkeley Shellmound tenía, en algunos puntos, 300 pies de largo y 30 pies de alto; A pesar de las excavaciones arqueológicas que incorporaron suelo modificado para preparar la tierra para el desarrollo posterior, el “shellmound" todavía existe debajo del estacionamiento que ahora cubre el espacio sagrado. Obtenga más información sobre Ohlone Vision para West Berkeley Shellmound aquí. -cielo
Where's Waldo - Emerson's Community Directory
It’s time to build our school/class directory called Where’s Waldo! Did you know it can be found on our school website? Playdates, rideshares, resource sharing and more can be possible when Where’s Waldo is complete! It’s all available securely online and printable. If you have submitted your information through a paper form, we are working to get your information updated. You will still need to create an account to access the directory and to adjust your preferences by using the email you submitted. Click here for the steps to joining Where's Waldo! Visit the Friday PTA table for help signing up!
Teachers’ Corner: 2nd Grade Tree Art
Second graders created these trees using paint sticks and watercolor paints. We started drawing the tree together, using "Y's" to create our branches. Then the artists could choose whether they wanted their trees to have realistic fall colored leaves or if they wanted to have a little more variety in their colors. I love how they all look so different.
Thanks for the Halloween Kindergarten Play Date!
The Kindergarten crew wants to thank everyone for making the Halloween play date a blast—so many great costumes and an amazing Pumpkin Fairy who had the kids twirling, jumping, and running after bubbles. She really knew how to keep them going! It was wonderful seeing the kids running around together in their costumes. Thanks also to the folks setting up, managing goody bags, tearing down, and cleaning up!
How to Connect!
Do you want to talk to another parent about Emerson, learn ways to connect with other families and support the school? Here are four things you can do:
1) Visit the PTA table on Friday mornings at drop-off!
2) Set up your profile in Where’s Waldo, Emerson’s online family directory.
3) Join the PTA .
4) Learn about the Heart of Emerson campaign!
¡Virtual Second Saturday Bilingüe! is on November 13 on Zoom.
Emerson families- below are two UC Berkeley Art Museum activities that might interest you this weekend:
¡Virtual Gallery + Studio Bilingüe! YOU ARE THE EARTH / TÚ ERES LA TIERRA will explore the relationship between yourself and the natural environment to make a landscape that expresses something about your children with artist Indira Urrutia
¡Virtual RoundtableReading Bilingüe! we will read VOYAGE OF THE DOGS / PERRONAUTAS by Greg Van Eekhout.
Ladito, Campeona, Bicho, and Margarita are Barkonauts, dogs specially trained to help human astronauts on missions in space. Aboard the spaceship Laika, their mission takes a disastrous turn and the Barkonauts on board suddenly find themselves completely alone on their severely damaged ship. Will it be a complete disaster or will the Barkonauts complete their mission?
Find Emerson Online
Website: emerson.berkeleypta.org
Remind: Text @7f6hb to 81010; or go to www.remind.com/join/7f6hb
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emersonpta (or follow @emersonPTA)
About BearFacts News:
BearFacts News is a weekly publication created by parent volunteers and posted online at emerson.berkeleypta.org.
BearFacts articles and calendar items are based on submissions from the community and reviewed and edited under the PTA communication policy. Inclusion of an item in BearFacts by itself does not indicate sponsorship or endorsement by the PTA, Emerson school staff, or BUSD.
If you have a news item or announcement to include in the BearFacts News, please send an email to emersonschoolnews@gmail.com. Please keep your message brief and include all the pertinent details including dates, times, locations and contact information. Send images as an e-mail attachment. The deadline is each Monday at 6 p.m.
Copyright © 2021. Emerson Elementary PTA. All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
2800 Forest Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705